Mirrors
edited by Wendy Cooling

Collins 2001

234p hc $19.95

ISBN: 0-00-710588-6

Mirrors is a collection of short stories compiled by Wendy Cooling.  Different authors from around the globe wrote the fifteen stories, with each plot line constructed around mirrors- not just the ordinary, conventional mirrors, but things that give reflection, like water, fish scales, and pieces of glass.  The stories range from a retelling of an ancient Greek legend to a boy who sees into the future through a mirror in a hotel room, and to a lady who gets kidnapped by ghosts of ancient Aborigines for touching a sacred turtle shell mirror.

The most impressive thing about Mirrors is its ability to remain entertaining throughout, and not hit a low point.  Unlike some short stories, which have the potential to drag on and get boring, this collection keeps you entertained.  With fifteen great stories compiled into the one edition, Mirrors is definitely worth a read.  Wendy Cooling rightly deserves all praise this book brings her.

My favourite story is Rochefaults Revenge, by Alan Durant.  This story is about a gang of boys who smash a mirror they find lying on the bank of a river.  When they finish, one of them looks into the shattered remains of the mirror and sees the face of an old man looking back at him.  I wont ruin the ending, but I will say that the boys learn about what seven years bad luck feels like, the hard way!

Mirrors is an exciting collection of short stories each with a common central theme, and I recommend it to anybody who is looking for something nice and easy to be entertained by.